Table of contents for 25 January 2023 in MCN

The Gold Star’s a great first effort’ REBORN BRITS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD NEW BIKES Harley-Davidson's 120th specials The constant battle to signal - and capitalise upon - manufacturing heritage continues as Harley-Davidson become the latest brand in motorcycling to rack up 120 years of production. And to ram home the message, the extensive crop of special edition models boasts styling cues that hark right back to the genesis of the brand. It's not all about looking back, though, with multiple other model updates. PAGE 04 GREAT ESCAPES See the very best of Europe How many times have you ridden somewhere new, to later discover that you missed a glorious road, view, café or stop-over location by a matter of meters? Frustrating enough when it's local, but it's gutting if you've ridden all…

Triumph have begun a UK dealership tour for their new Street Triple 765R and RS which will give customers the chance to see both models up close. Running until March 19, visitors can also have their picture taken on a special tilted stand to replicate getting their knee down. The tour starts today (Jan25) at Peterborough Triumph, before heading on to Somerset. Prices begin at £9595 for the R, and £11,295 for the RS. See triumphmotorcycles.co.uk for more. GT’s a touring King The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT has been named as the best-selling sports tourer of 2022 despite not going to market until April. FinaL figures for the year saw 781 bikes registered, with the forecast for that figure to top 1000 units sold before the end of March this year, which…

SuperBike Factory are bringing their massive stock of used motorbikes to the South West with a new showroom in Bristol.. The venue will eventually have 400 bikes in stock and will also act as a click and collect location for the firm's online inventory of more than 3000 models. The new showroom opened on January 7 but the official, opening event took place on January 14-15 -with more than 350 used machines already in stock and the chance to win £250 worth of accessories vouchers for people who went along. “The opening ot the SuperBike Factory Bristol, showroom realty supports our digital, offering,” said Scott Behrens, CEO. “It provides our customers in the South West with the choice of selecting a bike online with the opportunity of either collecting it…

Q '79 in a 60… am in trouble?’ I was caught speeding on a sunny Sunday morning. The road was still a bit damp from overnight rain but otherwise the conditions were fine. My speed was 79mph in a 60mph. The road was very quiet at that time of the morning with no hazards, obstructions or junctions nearby. I responded to the letter confirming it was me riding. I got a reply saying that due to the speed it will go to court. I have since enrolled in a training course run by the police. Could you give me some advice on any further action I can take to minimise the penalty? I currently have a dean licence. Roger D, email 'What can I do to lessen the penalty?’ A…

James Sherwin ‘Bud’ Ekins was a successful dirt bike rider, racer and Triumph dealer, who became friends with stars such as Steve McQueen, moved into movie stunt riding and famously performed the most iconic bike stunt in film history - jumping over the fence in The Great Escape. Born 1930 in Los Angeles, Ekins learned to ride in the nearby Hollywood Hills, honing his off-road skills long before he could legally ride on the road, so much so that by his late teens, he was one of ‘SoCal’s top dirt and desert racers. In 1952 he was supported by Matchless to race in the European motocross championship, placing a respectable 15th. Then in 1955, US Triumph super-dealer, Johnson Motors, provided Ekins with a TR5 Trophy on which he won the…

‘Is t cheap enough?’ There's Little doubt that the Maxsym is a bold, impressive addition to SYM's scooter range. But there's also little doubt on which rival it's been modelledYamaha's TMAX. The fact the Maxsym's not quite as good and lacks (some) features maybe matters little when in both practical and performance terms the SYM is more than capable and just two-thirds of the Yamaha's price. Even so, a ticket nearing £10K is still a big wodge of money other similarly priced rivals from Honda and Kymco also have a lot to offer and some, smaller 'midi-scoots' such as Honda's ADV350, offer a similar experience (comfort, 85mph, features) for less dosh. THE FACTS £9449 SYM Maxsym TL508…

TESTED FOR 30k MILES It's great when you find a bit of kit that fits perfectly and works well. These Sidi Adventures are a case in point, an all-round all-weather boot. Key to their performance is the Gore-Tex membrane which has proved infallible at keeping my feet dry. After ten years use the sole eventually wore through, however they are repLaceabLe and they should now be good for another decade. Now superseded by the Quality Value www.sidi.com…

‘Stickers can be a good sign' It’s generally assumed in the bike trade that aftermarket stickers on bikes are a bad thing, covering up a crack or damaged paint. But that's not the only consequences of DIY stickers - there can be good ones, too. Stickers are also an indicator of a bike's history and how it was used. There are also ‘bad’ stickers and ‘good’ stickers. Bad ones are cheap, badly applied and positioned to disguise. Good ones, are quality, correctly placed/applied, enhance the bike’s looks or, best of all, actually protect items. Think yoke protectors, tank pads/ grippers etc. And all should be seen as information and as an opportunity - not a curse. I always view immaculately prepared used bikes with some suspicion. But one covered in…

SPORT Time is running out to vote for your 2022 MCN Rider of the Year award so make sure you have your say. We've had plenty of votes already and it's going to be a close run thing between the five riders that made the short list: Pecco Bagnaia, Alvaro Bautista, Bradley Ray, Peter Hickman and Jake Dixon. Peter Hickman enjoyed another year of racing success with four dominant TT victories onboard the FHO Racing BMW. In BSB, Ray put together a near-perfect campaign on the OMG Racing Yamaha R1 to clinch his maiden title. Ray had podiums in 19 of the 24 'Main Season' races and ended 2022 with nine wins. ‘Time is running out for you to have your say' Bagnaia made Ducati's dreams come true by delivering…

For 2023, Harley will be offering just one top-spec model in their Custom Vehicle Operations programme: the £50,395 CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary. Individually numbered and dressed in a heritage paint scheme that points to HarleyDavidsons of old, the CVO special will be limited to 1500 units worldwide. Each bike will start with a base coat of black, before an application of Heirloom Red (the same as the anniversary models) on the front fender, fairing, fairing lowers, fuel tank, side covers, bags, and more. This is then finished with a red pinstripe and a gold scallop applied by hand. The side profile of an eagle in flight completes the look, with subtle wing details seen in the fuel tank and side bags,…

SAVE £2082 £15,495 H-D Touring Pan Am 1250 Special The Pan Arm's quirky styling means it stands out in the Adventure bike crowd, and Swansea H-D have added a £1400-worth of accessories to this Vivid Black Standard model to make it even more distinctive; including engine brush guards, dark sport windscreen, fuel tank knee pads, a black aluminium tour pack and hand wind deflectors. www.swanseaharley-davidson.com SAVE £3100 £5999 Kawasaki W800 Café M&P Direct have two metallic brown Café models pre-reg'd on 22-plates with one mile ontheclockand 34% off. motorcycles.mandp.co.uk • Engine 773cc • Power 47bhp • nWeight 223kg • Seat height 790mm SAVE £900 £8644 Yamaha Tracer 7 GT There's just two unregistered Tracer 7 GTs left at 5-Ways with £900 off list price in Redline or Tech Kamo colours.…

Metzeler have released an extra soft rear tyre for extreme enduro racing. The MCE 6 Days Extreme Extra Soft, demarked by three white lines, comes in 140/80-18 70M NHS size and is suitable for one-day competitions and special stages and features a tread compound to cope with extreme conditions. It also features a new layout of the knobs for performance over treacherous terrain. To find your Local dealer, visit www.metzeler.com. In a spin over Norton racing royalty Two racers and one engineer who made their names with rotary racers will make an appearance at next month's Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show. Ron Haslam, Trevor Nation and engineering legend Brian Crighton will be regaling attendees with memories of the Norton rotary days. The show takes place over the weekend of Feb 25-26…

Keep your bike safe for less This week we’re looking at deals on gear that should help ensure your bike stays where it’s supposed to be. The Oxford Boss disc lock and chain provides a three-pronged approach, firstly as a visual deterrent but if the bright coloured casing doesn't put off opportunist thieves, then there’s the physical aspect. Each 14mm hexagon link of the Sold Secure Gold Monster chain is made from hardened Cro-Mo steel, strengthened with titanium alloy and coated in zinc to prevent corrosion, making it a tough nut to crack especially when paired up with a ground anchor. It features a double locking 14mm shackle, with a ball bearing mechanism and semi-elliptical barrel that’s highly resistant to lockpick and drill attacks. On top of that is the lOOdB…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH Pirelli are catering for their sportiest customers with the fourth generation of their Diablo Supercorsa tyres for both the street and the track - using a dual-compound design on the front for the first time. The Italian firm claim the new Supercorsa V4, available in roadfocused SP or trio of racier SC options, are the sportiest street and fastest treaded track tyre they have ever manufactured. But how have they done it? A change up front The new front design employs a fresh avenue of thinking for the Italian maker and features a silica base-compound, which covers the entire profile of the tyre. The shoulders are constructed from the same rubber as that used in the SC3 racing version, which allows riders to lean on the…

JON URRY ‘Playing the numbers game’ I've often said how annoying I find Harley's alphabetti spaghetti naming system, which defies not only logic but also any kind of rhyme or reason, but there is one thing that gets my goat even more: misleading numbers. I'm a simple kind of person, I like a number to tell me what capacity the bike is. If I see 636 on the side of a Ninja ZX-6RI know it is the 2002 model, not the 2000-2001, which looks the same but has a 599cc engine. When I see a BMW R12501 know it is the 1254cc (close enough) boxer engine. You get my gist. The rot started with the Triumph T595, which was 955cc. Triumph saw sense and it was rebranded the 955i. You'd…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday January 25 BIKE MEETS ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints. 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.Loomiescafe.co.uk Thursday January 26 BIKE MEETS ■ Vic Bikers Pub CoalviLLe, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ Iron Horse Market Deeping, Lincs 5pm-9pm 01778-346952 or www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk ■ Whistlestop Cafe Whitby, North Yorks 4.30pm-8.30pm Facebook: WhistLestop Cafe ■ Zoom Zoom Tearoom Sand Lane, South Cave, East Yorks 6pm 01430-424242 ■ Down and Out Motorcycles The BoiLer Flouse, Rotherham, South Yorks 5.30pm onwards www.downandoutcustoms.co.uk ■ The Flotterstone Inn Penicuik, A702 nr Edinburgh City Bypass, Edinburgh…

Being cold and wet while trying to control a motorcycle on slippery road surfaces is not most people's idea of fun. However, if that’s your reason for tucking your bike up from the end of autumn to the beginning of spring, you could be missing out. You might be surprised to learn that, on average, during winter in the UK it rains for less than half of the days in each month. It’s definitely colder, and there is less daylight, but that just means wrapping up to stay warm, or perhaps going for shorter rides. Apart from enjoying the seasonal changes to the landscape, there are other advantages to winter rides. For a start, there tends to be less traffic in popular tourist destinations, leaving you free from the frustration of…

STEPHEN HOOKER Age 75 Height 5ft 8in Current bikes Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, RE Continental. GT 650, Triumph T120 Bonneville Been riding 50+ years on and off First bike BSA C15 Shooting Star Dream bike ‘I think I have it' 'I'd been off bikes for nine or 10 years, got the Bonneville, came across the Enfield, went to look at it at Sycamore in Peterborough and immediately thought 'that's my kind of bike.' I had been looking at classics and was longing for the golden age of bikes. The Continental reminded me of cafe racers from the late '60s, early '70s. Then I saw the interceptor and thought it just looked beautiful so got one with the chrome tank. But I kept thinking about the Continental, worried I'd put too…

Imagine riding across the rooftop of Europe, ticking off all of the highest passes in the Alps as you do so. Cruising along the serene tarmac of a carefully planned pre-set route, triumphing over hairpin bend after hairpin bend, and taking in the intoxicating views at 2770m, before arriving at a ready-made camp to savour the finest local fare. Sounds like a proper dream ride, doesn’t it? The good news, however, is that this fantasy is in fact a reality. Last year, The Great Malle Mountain Rally took place for the first time and succeeded in becoming the longest Alpine rally ever attempted. Covering a distance of 1500 miles over six days and travelling through six countries, you’d be forgiven for thinking you need an adventure bike, but this feat…

Designed for touring and everyday use I've found these boots live up to Astars' cLaims of being light weight, comfortable, but most importantly waterproof. Made from leather, which has worn exceptionally well, and with an integrated Gore-Tex membrane, they have kept me dry despite some long wet rides where other parts of my kit have failed. They are a good compromise of being flexible enough to make walking easy with a decent level of protection, although the boot is quite short compared to other summer or off-road boots I normally wear. Quality Value www.alpinestars.com TESTED FOR 1500 MILES…

The FireBlade had trumped it before it arrived, Ducati's 916 stole its track limelight and Yamaha's R1 cut its life short. In isolation, though, the YZF was beautiful (despite some dubious coLourschemes), free-revving, fast, outhandled its closest contemporaries and racked up BSB titles in saucy SP form in the hands of Niall Mackenzie. In the Noughties, you could snap one up for as Little as two grand. Today, though, it's an appreciating cLassic. BUYER BEWARE • Engines are robust but can drink oil, so listen for rattles from a bike that's been used with too little. Clutches die every 20,000 miles. • Chassis was top-notch (late bikes have the best rear shock), but some finish isn't great-there are cheap fasteners and the thin paint on the wheels will be ready…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician 1 Get familiar with your linkage The Linkage transmits the movement of the swingarm to the shock, and needs to be kept tip-top to function correctly. The internal moving parts are lubricated with grease and fitted with seals - and it's these that need to be inspected annually and the bearings re-greased if necessary. Before you start, check the specific procedure for your bike in a manual. BRUCE’S TIPS Use a pressure washer regularly? Go easy around the linkage area. 2 Get the right support As you'll be unbolting the shock from its mountings, the swingarm will no longer be able to bear the bike's weight meaning that you can't use a traditional paddock stand to support the rear of the bike. Instead, you'll need to lift…

GREG HAINES INSIGHT Everything you need to know from the world of WSB DADS & LADS | WSB 'I think you either love or loathe what your father does. I often wonder whether I would have been what I have been If my father had been a plumber, carpenter or businessman. My father was a professional racing motorcyclist and a great man. I was very fond of him and I wanted to be like him.” Those are the words of legendary motorsport commentator Murray Walker, whose dad, Graham, raced in the ‘continental circus’ now known as MotoGP. Had the world championship existed in those days, Graham would have been world champion in 1928. Initially a racer and later a broadcaster, Murray followed in his father’s footsteps on both counts. And he’s…

SPORT JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Domestic racing news from MCN's man in the know INTERVIEW | BSB EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW The Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads into a new era this season with an all-new format, departing champions and several riders changing teams, plus the addition of several rookies and 2022 support class champions. MCN caught up witn Race Director, Stuart Higgs, for an exclusive interview to discuss 2023. Time for change The original Showdown was introduced in 2010 and has always been hit and miss with both riders and fans. You either love it or hate it. BSB has evolved plenty since then, expanding to three races per weekend and having a much more competitive grid. The playing field is much more level than it was at the end of 2009; now, all…

SPORT JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Reporting direct from the 2023 Ducati team launch TOP STORY Ducati have unveiled their latest MotoGP and World Superbike liveries during their Campioni in Pista event in the stunning ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio. MCN were in attendance as Ducati’s riders and management launched their campaign, one in-which they’ll be targeting another sensational World Championship double. Enea Bastianini ‘I’m feeling supercharged' ‘The Beast’ was the surprise package last season, securing third overall with four victories for Gresini Racing and is now part of Ducati’s factory squad. What’s more intriguing is that Bastianini and title winner Pecco Bagnaia went head to head multiple times in 2022, with the former often glued to the back of Bagnaia’s GP22 in the final part of the year. Bastianini has a…

Will Pecco fall foul of the curse? In racing iconography, the No1 plate is supposedly an honour and a privilege but Mighty Mick Doohan, who reigned for five years running, was not particularly impressed. “It’s just something on the front of your bike that you can't even see. Just a target for all the others.” His opinion might be more than 20 years old, but it still counts because the Australian, somewhat surprisingly, is the last premier-class racer to successfully defend the No1 plate. Hence something of a superstition… the fear of the Curse of the Number One Plate. Riders have their quirks - lucky underpants, pre-race rituals. They might not actually believe in them, but they wouldn't risk it. Subsequent serial winners Rossi and Marquez observed the curse, sticking…

HJC i71 Solid £199.99 This lightweight sports touring helmet features a polycarbonate composite shell and is approved to ECE 22.06. The internal sun shield can be adjusted back and forth for optimal effectiveness, and the main visor has a gLove-friendly locking system. It comes ready to accept H JC's Senadeveloped Bluetooth comms system. www.oxfordproducts.com Alpinestars Proton Jacket £389.99 All-weather sports styled street jacket with a waterproof membrane and detachable thermal liner. The CE A-rated outer shell is a mix of stretch textile and leather, featuring four zipped pockets and two ventilation panels. It has Level 2 shoulder and knee protectors, with provision for the Tech-Air airbag. www.oxfordproducts.com Oxford Original Approved AA Chinos 129.99 Slim-fit casual. Look pants with a single layer Armourlite construction that earns them an AA CE rating.…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Each week one lucky reader will receive an MCN T-shirt in a variety of different designs STAR LETTER Bautista is a genius Alvaro Bautista always makes an excellent point in saying that if the bike makes such a difference then why wasn't everyone else winning regularly on it. I think people forget the level he's raced at and also the fine margins that these guys are dealing with. If the Ducati’s top speed was such a factor as people are making out then he would be winning races by a huge distance, but as we've seen it's incredibly close. Maybe some people don't like him and that's fine, but give…

WEDNESDAY January 25 1.30pm, ITV4, Motorbike Show. Also at 5.50pm FRIDAY January 27 5am, EUR2, Rally Raid Dakar Saudi Arabia-Review MONDAY January 30 7am, EUR2, World Superbikes-Aragon Weekend Highlights 8am, EUR2, World Superbikes Netherlands Weekend Highlights 3pm, EUR1 World Superbikes-2022 Race of the Season KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT - DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC - DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD - DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS - EXTREME SPORTS CHANN EUR1 (2, HD) - EU ROS PORT 1 (2, HD) MOT - MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 - CHANNEL 4 CH5 - CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI - BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN - ESPNCLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST - DISCOVERY TURBO SHED DISCOVERY SHED INST - INSIGHT SS1 (2,30RX) - SKY SPORTSl(2.30R EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 - BTSPORT1 BTS2 - BTSPORT2 TVL - TRAVELUK 0…

THE BIG TEST THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £7100 BSA Fold Star • 652cc DOHC single 4v • 45bhp @ 6500rpm • 213kg (kerb) £6399 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 • 648cc SOHC twin 4v • 47bhp @ 7250rpm • 202kg (kerb) Historic British motorcycle manufacturers are back - but now mostly via India. Triumph apart (which are British owned and HQ-ed, although many of their bikes are now built in Thailand), historic brands Royal Enfield, Norton and now BSA are now all owned by vast Indian corporations. All are also now on newly re-energised paths involving massive new investment, new British bases, new distribution and/ or dealers and, crucially, new models, with all leaning heavily on their history to create retro-styled but modern-engineered machines.…

‘Give BSA a gold star…’ With the EnfieLd proven to be so good and rightfully popular, the new Gold Star was always likely to have an uphill battle. Which is one reason why, by matching it so well, yet adding its own character, quality details and more which easily justify its slightly higher price, the new BSA is already a winner. Its performance is virtually identical but with twin top end swapped for single-cylinder grunt and character. Its handling is on a par, too, but slightLy lazier while it's £800 more expensive, but justified by its better spec (Brembo brakes, Excel, rims, Pirelli tyres, stainless exhaust etc) and sweeter and more stylish detailing (quirky clocks, nicer switchgear and so on). The Gold Star's not perfect. Some details, such as that…

‘Prepared to get lost’ Robert Nightingale shares his stories from plotting and researching the Mountain Rally route across every highest and wildest mountain passes. “We parked our bikes on a sheet of ice that spread from the mountain door and walked into the tunnel to understand the surface at minus 4”C. A thicker layer of ice covered potholes over a foot deep. The tunnel was pitch black, frozen, full of water, with a pinprick of light at the end, through from one side of the mountain to the other. Then the sound of three high-revving engines reverberating through the narrow tunnel created a deafening soundtrack to this wild moment. Ice covered foot-deep potholes’ “As we reached the checkpoint on the Italian side, the Rally teams were arriving, buzzing from the views…

I've put 3000 miles on these vegan-friendly but unusual boots. Reassuringly solid, they work great on the bike while being extremely comfortable off it. The thick soles give great grip on both rubber and metal pegs, and on wet, slippery ground. That said, if you thrive on feedback through the pegs these dial most of it out. The Gore-Tex membrane has never leaked and my early concerns about the laces becoming a gunked-up nightmare to tie have proved unfounded. The ankles come up just high enough to work with textile trousers and jeans without leaving any part of my leg exposed. They're my go-to, everyday boots. But while they are winners for me, at over £200 they're probably too expensive and weird for most. TESTED FOR 3000 MILES Quality Value…

Love to build bikes as much as I love to ride them, old or new. Q: I’m very interested in buying one, however I am worried about the comfort if riding with my wife. What is your opinion on that? João, Portugal A: The Zed is great two-up, my son rides with me most days, my wife every so often and I have taken my father out on it a few times. The saddle is big and very comfortable, the rear pegs are not too high, the only thing you might want to look at is changing the rear shock for a better-quality aftermarket one, especially if you do any touring with your wife and need to carry some luggage on the bike. Q: What tyres would you recommend? Mike…

'The forgotten service items’ The suspension linkage is a vital assembly that works together with the shook and swingarm bearings to allow the proper function of a bike’s rear end. However, like a lot of critical chassis parts, they are placed in the perfect position to be exposed to the worst conditions. They are also not on most owner’s mental DIY service tick off-list, either. The obvious consumables like, oil and air filters, brake pads and tyres are all at the top of most owners’ service agenda, but the poor linkage never gets a look in. Part of the issue is down to the fact that the linkage works seamlessly in the background, and it’s only when something goes wrong, or the MoT tester points out an issue, that most…